How do I get autotools to compile with the Intel compiler?

Question

I want my code to compile with the Intel compiler(s) or with gcc/g++ depending on a configure argument. Is this possible? What do I need to put in my configure.ac and Makefile.am files to make this happen?

Answer 1

If you want to use a compiler other than gcc when you compile, pass 'CC=/path/to/compiler' as an argument to configure. (That is, run ./configure CC=/path. Do not use the form CC=/path ./configure.) If you want the default compiler to be something other than gcc, you can put

CC=${CC-/path/to/default/compiler}

in configure.ac before the invocation of AC_PROG_CC.

Answer 2

I would do this:

AC_PROG_CC([icc gcc])

This will look for the compilers in the order specified, unless overridden with an argument to ./configure

$ ./confgure CC=gcc

Answer 3

Of course it is. You can configure a default compiler in configure.ac and if the user wants to use another compiler, he (or she) can pass it to the ./configure script.

You'll find more about it here: How to use autotools.

The part that might be interesting for you is at the middle of the page:

#if a compiler is not specified by the user use intel compilers
AC_PATH_PROG(CC_PATH, $CC, NO_PATH)
if test "$CC_PATH" = NO_PATH; then
 CC="icc"
fi

Answer 4

Usually you can just run

bash $ CC=icc ./configure

to use lcc, or any other compiler as the C compiler, provided the rest of the configure and build process doesn't use any gcc'ism.